Tightness in Stomach

Having a tight feeling in your stomach after a rigorous workout is normal. But having the same feeling at any random time, does not sound so good. Here is an explanation on what could cause tightness in stomach, and what is done for its treatment.

HealthHearty Staff

Last Updated: Apr 23, 2018

Tightness in stomach can be described as an abdominal discomfort felt on account of stomach pain, stomach cramping or even stomach bloating. It is very difficult to pinpoint what exactly is a tight stomach, as different people experience it in different ways.

Why Does Your Stomach Feel Tight?

The problem could be due to...

Wrong Eating Habits

People who indulge in overeating often experience discomfort in stomach after eating. Eating foods which are very spicy or oily, can lead to this condition. Eating at wrong times, such as late nights or in the middle of the night, can sometimes cause abdominal discomfort too. Excessive intake of alcohol is another cause behind this.

Constipation

Constipation is a condition in which the person has infrequent bowel movements, i.e. less than three times in a week, and the feces are very dry and dark in color. Tightness in stomach, if accompanied by these symptoms as well as headache, bloating and gas, could be due to constipation.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a stomach problem in which the stools become very watery and their frequency increases considerably. If a tight stomach is accompanied by symptoms such as, loose stools, abdominal pain, headaches, nausea, fever and blood in stools, the reason could be diarrhea.

Pregnancy

This condition is pretty common during pregnancy. This happens because of two reasons. Firstly, during early pregnancy, a hormone known as progesterone, increases in the body. This hormone relaxes the muscle tissues of the gastrointestinal tract, thereby, slowing down the digestion in the pregnant woman. When this happens, the woman experiences nausea, excessive burping, headaches, stomach bloating and a tight stomach.

Strained muscles

Tightness in stomach muscles could be due to a pulled or strained muscle in the stomach. This could result from an external injury or trauma caused to the stomach muscles by some physical activity such as exercise or sports.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Another reason behind tightness and pain in stomach is a condition known as irritable bowel syndrome. It is a disorder of the intestines in which the large intestine does not function adequately. Besides a tight stomach, other symptoms of this condition are nausea, bloating, abdominal pain, gas, constipation or diarrhea.

Treatment

☞ For treating a tight stomach caused due to wrong kind of eating habits, refraining from spicy, oily foods and eating in moderation is the key. Eating a well-balanced diet with high fiber foods, help in reducing the gas, burping and the stomach tightness symptoms. Drinking lots of fluids including 10-12 glasses of water per day, helps in making the digestive process faster and thus, reduces the tightness in stomach. Exercising everyday is the key to better digestion and general overall good health, so form a routine of the same, as soon as possible.

☞ For treating discomfort in stomach caused due to diarrhea, following the BRAT diet plan for diarrhea is very essential. A person suffering from diarrhea should eat BRAT foods, i.e. bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. Besides that, for diarrhea and upset stomach, properly cooked vegetables having high fluid content should be undertaken.

☞ Tightness in stomach caused due to irritable bowel syndrome, also known as spastic colon, can be cured by following a spastic colon diet. Foods containing magnesium, such as green leafy vegetables, foods rich in folic acid, such as whole wheat breads and cereals, foods rich in vitamin B6, such as beans, peas and carrots, should be undertaken.

☞ Tightness of stomach, nausea, bloating in pregnancy is quite common as long as it is not severe. If the conditions become severe, i.e., abdominal pain during pregnancy as well as discomfort in stomach becomes severe, it is advised to consult an obstetrician immediately. Tightness in stomach caused due to an injury can be cured by resting the stomach and refraining from any activity which puts undue pressure on the stomach muscles.

Most of the time, this condition is not serious, but if it is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, blood in stools, vomiting and severe abdominal pain, it is advised to consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment, as in such a scenario, discomfort in stomach could be due to some serious conditions such as a stomach ulcer, Crohn's disease or even appendicitis.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.